Simply Zazzy [Day 5]

[Sam]

Day Five

I wasn't sure what we were any more.

Were we considered an underdog still? Or a long shot?

But since we won, we couldn't be an underdog- could we? We could still be a long shot, I believe. He could still be considered the dark horse. Would he be an upsetter? Wouldn't people want another Triple Crown?

Questions buzzed in my head as I trotted Zaz around near the pastures. When we came to a halt and I rubbed his sleek neck, it became clear.

He was simply Zazzy. He didn't need a label.

(Or rather, I didn't want to think of our possibilities. I thought they were slim, but then again, I could be proven wrong for the second time in a row.)

Zaz was a nervous wreck. Though he always was when he warmed up. He jumped to one side then the other every now and then. His strides was short and jittery. He felt edgy and fidgety under me.

And this was just away from the track.

Soon though, I pulled him to a halt and began to walk him to the track. Or well, walked sideways, shifted forwards, stumbles and side stepped to the track. When Zaz was nervous, he wasn't the best at straight lines. He was quite wiggly and looked almost drunk as I kept trying to correct him.

Once the colt's hoof touched the track, he wanted to bolt but I held him tight. I know, I mumbled. I know... He snorted and kept his walk, though he bounced a bit.

Ok, I said, letting him loose in the reins and granting him permission to trot. He took it quickly. He threw his head when I pulled the reins to keep him in check. He rolled his eyes in fear and snorted and huffed. His strides were jittery and uncomfortable for me.

I tried to push him and make his strides longer but again he tried to bolt. Easy, bud, I muttered. Again, he snorted and kept his trot, but sped up a tad bit.

Alright, I said. Go. The colt understood immediately and bolted into a canter.

A stride later he was cool, calm, and collected. He was acting totally mellow and didn't seem to have a care in the world.

I smiled at this and slowly had him increase his pace. He was going for a small run today. Just a gallop around the track. Two miles to help him get his kinks out before we tried a workout.

Since his appointment with the chiropractor, he's seemed to feel a lot better about himself. He pulled against the bit, asking for me to let him go but I held him tight.

He didn't argue with this and kept up an even tempo at the canter. The golden colt was surprisingly very good at keeping a good, steady rythm. Normally a young horse you would have to check and recheck to make them keep the same beat.

I slowly increased his canter until he was galloping causally. I wasn't going for a blow out today. Just some endurance and conditioning.

His four days off did him a world of good. He was feeling frisky even and wanted to really blow off some steam but he was in general a good boy and listened when I kept him for galloping too fast.

He took both miles relatively well. Afterwards he seemed a bit tired, but not at all bad. He could have probably added another half mile and he would have been fine but I didn't want to jinx myself.